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Society of Wetland Scientists Professional Certification Program

Application Information - Form A

Please use the following information as a guide when filling out the Society of Wetland Scientists Professional Certification Program Application, Form B.

COLLEGE / UNIVERSITY EDUCATION:

All applicants must submit information that documents completion of the educational requirements leading to a college or university degree of Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, or equivalent or higher degree, and should have the following, or equivalent, course work:

1) Biological Sciences: Fifteen (15) semester hours in biological sciences including courses such as general biology, botany or zoology; general ecology; plant, animal, aquatic or wetlands ecology; invertebrate zoology; taxonomy; marine science; fisheries biology; plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, plant morphology; relevant environmental sciences; and similar courses.

2) Physical Sciences: Fifteen (15) semester hours in courses in soils, chemistry, hydrology, physics, geology, sedimentology, oceanography, coastal processes, environmental engineering, and similar courses.

3) Quantitative Sciences: Six (6) semester hours in courses in math, computer sciences, basic statistics, population dynamics, experimental statistics, and similar courses.

4) Additional Educational Requirements for PWS Certification: Beginning June 1, 1999, fifteen (15) semester hours (or equivalent in short courses or continuing education courses) of wetland-related coursework. Examples of recommended courses, continuing education, and/or training needed to attain additional competency include, but are not limited to, the following:

Wetland Plant Taxonomy ; Advanced Plant Taxonomy; Wetland Hydrology; General Hydrology; Soil Morphology, Classification, and Mapping; Hydric Soil Identification; Wetland Restoration and Creation; Wetland delineation/Evaluation/Classification; Applied Wetland Ecology and Management; Wetland Creation/Mitigation; Wetland Ecology. Attendance at professional meetings of symposia will not qualify to meet this requirement.

Applicants seeking credit for specialized wetland courses taken outside of the university setting where no official college credit was generated must provide the following information to assist the SWSPCP in assessing the applicability or the course in meeting the minimum hour requirement for Specialized Wetland Courses:

• Name, date, location and sponsor of the course
• The number of classroom and/or field hours completed
• Provide CEUs if earned

The SWSPCP recognizes that Professional Wetland Scientists will have an extremely broad range of technical specialties. Curricula can be individually tailored, particularly at the advanced degree level or as part of a professional development program of continuing education and training, to prepare for any of these specialties. For example, there is currently high interest in and need for qualified professionals to consistently and accurately identify and delineate wetlands and wetland boundaries; evaluate types, nature, and function of wetlands; and/or propose plans for wetland restoration, creation, and/or mitigation.

Credit Hours:

The educational requirements are expressed in terms of semester hours. One semester hour usually reflects one lecture hour or three laboratory hours of instruction per week for a 15-week term.  One quarter hour normally equals 0.66 semester hours; therefore, semester hours = quarter hours x 2/3.  Government or private sponsored training will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and converted to equivalent semester hour credit based on 15-hours of instruction equals 1 semester hours of credit.  For example, a 36-hour course in wetland delineation methodologies would equate to 2.4 equivalent semester hours of credit.  Applicants for certification who attended educational institutions that grant credits in different units (i.e. trimesters or quarters) are requested to convert their credits to semester hours according to the above definitions. The certification panel recognizes that the minimum number of credit hours in the listed sub-categories may not be met exactly in some cases because of differing credits awarded to the same subject at different institutions and/or because of uneven conversions from quarter hours to semester hours. The panel expects that the minimum number of semester-hour equivalents for each of the major categories will be met.

It is the applicant's responsibility to provide full documentation of education. When course titles do not describe content, a short, written description or course syllabus should be provided. Applicants who do not clearly meet the stated minimum educational requirements but believe they satisfy their content should submit detailed documentation of comparable qualifications.

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE:

In addition to the minimum collegiate courses required, a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) must meet specific experience and wetlands-related education as outlined below: Professional experience begins following conferral of the FIRST degree at a baccalaureate or higher level. Certification as a PWS requires a minimum of five (5) years of full-time professional experience. Relevant experience must be gained within ten (10) years prior to applying for the PWS. Experience must demonstrate the application of current technical knowledge to problems and programs dealing with wetland resources and activities. Relevant experience may be gained while working in the private (e.g., consulting, industry, non-profit), public (e.g., local, state, federal government), and/or academic sectors.

Identification of the professional level of experience will require careful evaluation of each application. Experience is calculated based upon applicantºs description and documentation of percentage of time applied to relevant wetlands work.. Therefore, it is the applicant's responsibility to fully document for each experience the percentage of time devoted specifically to professional wetland activities, providing month/year dates for each period(s) of experience. Full-time work experience is defined as a minimum 75% of daily/weekly/monthly duties devoted specifically to wetland science. Work experience below the 75% threshold will be credited on a pro-rated basis. NOTE: The terms "research' and 'project(s)' are generic.

Examples of qualifying experience include:

1. Engaging in research that includes field or laboratory observations, analysis of data, and preparation of a publication for recognized journals and/or published reports to private/public clients,
2. Directing a research project with supervisory responsibility over several technicians,
3. Serving as a leader or assistant leader on wetland-related projects requiring independent judgment and action,
4. Teaching a college course or equivalent in wetlands science,
5. Working as a wetland specialist, scientist, or manager in the public (local, state, or federal agency) or private (industry, consultant, developer) sector,
6. Directing a state-wide or district-wide wetlands program, conducting wetland restoration projects, wetland program planning, or conducting wetland delineation or evaluation.

Examples of non-qualifying experience include:

1. Teaching below the college level,
2. Carrying out routine responsibilities such as data collections without statistical analysis, professional writing of someone elseºs work, making routine plant identifications, conducting bioassay or other analytical laboratory determinations,
3. Providing input to or review of environmental impact statements - unless as a wetland specialist,
4. Working as an undergraduate or graduate research or teaching assistant,
5. Involvement in wetland studies as an administrative function without application of principles and concepts of wetland sciences.

Time spent obtaining advanced academic degrees may apply toward professional experience subject to the following guidelines.

1. Experience credit normally will be given only upon completion of curriculum and research judged by the panel as relevant to the wetland profession.
2. Up to two (2) years of credit will be allotted for a Master's degree, up to three (3) years of credit for a Ph.D., and up to four (4) years of credit for a Master's and a Ph.D. Credit allowed will be on a case-by-case basis based on relevance to the wetland sciences. The applicant should outline the wetlands relevance of the work leading to the degree(s) to ensure experiential credit is given.
3. When time intervals for education and employment overlap, a detailed explanation must be provided of the relevant portions of each. Experience must be gained within the ten (10) years prior to the date the application is signed.

REFERENCES:

Names, addresses, and phone numbers of five (5) references must accompany application for certification. Three of the five references must be members of the Society of Wetland Scientists. One reference must be an employer, supervisor, or client. Two references must be from Professional Wetland Scientists. At least one PWS reference must complete form C. For PWS, two of your references must be from professionals employed outside your own organization. Do not list personnel that you supervise. Indicate category of each reference. The foregoing requirements may be waived for applicants applying for certification from extremely remote areas.

Three (3) of the five references you list must complete the "Society of Wetland Scientists Reference Request: Form C." It is important that you indicate your interests concerning the confidentiality of each reference by checking the appropriate place on the form and signing the form. Each reference request form must be sealed with the reference's signature covering the seal on the envelope. All sealed references must be submitted with your application. DO NOT OPEN SEALED LETTERS.

UPGRADING FROM WPIT TO PWS:

For an individual certified as a Wetland Professional in Training to apply for certification as a Professional Wetland Scientist, it is not necessary to complete the full application. The individual should document course work and other training and experience since the last application that will fulfill completely the requirements for PWS certification. Professional accomplishments and publications should be highlighted. The name and address of at least one new reference, preferably an individual certified as a PWS, should be included with the application, along with a check or money order for the difference between the WPIT and PWS application fees ($100 US). If the upgrade application is more than two years from the date a WPIT was awarded, three new form Cs must be completed to reflect a current assessment of the applicantºs professional work experience. The SWSPCP Business Office will attach a copy of the original application to the new material for submission to the Certification Panel. Review and approval of the upgrade application will then proceed in the same way as an original application.

*Note: To qualify as a member, you must have been a member of SWS for one (1) calendar year prior to the year of application and have a current membership.

Upon certification, an annual fee of $25 will be required to maintain the SWSPCP Registry. Fees for a WPIT applying for PWS after obtaining work experience will be an additional $100 at the time of application for PWS certification.

Checks must be in US funds, drawn upon a US bank, and made payable to: SWS Professional Certification Program. MasterCard and VISA are also accepted. If paying by MasterCard or VISA, please provide the card number, expiration date, and signature of the cardholder.

TRANSCRIPTS:

Copies of ALL academic transcripts are required for all degrees conferred. Photocopies of certified or notarized forms are acceptable. DO NOT have transcripts sent separately; include with application. Copies of transcript(s) must be included with original and each photocopied application.

PHOTOCOPIES:

Photocopies will be made by business office for letters of reference ONLY. DO NOT open sealed letters.

The original and three photocopies of the completed application, including transcript(s), must be submitted along with sealed letters of reference and payment in one envelope to

NOTIFICATION:

All applicants will be notified via postcard upon receipt of their application and upon determination of acceptance or denial of certification.